Boy Names That Mean Dark
Dark names carry a quiet, mysterious depth — an understated cool that has made them increasingly popular for children of every kind. Far from gloomy, “dark” in names usually points to dark hair, dark eyes or the beauty of the night, and the Celtic languages in particular gave us a wealth of them. Many come from Irish and Scottish Gaelic words for “dark” and “dark-haired” — Ciar, Kieran (“little dark one”), Sullivan (“dark eyes”) and Douglas (“dark water”). Others mean dark or black in Sanskrit (Krishna, Shyam), Greek (Melanie, “dark”) and Germanic (Bruno, “brown”). Dark names feel sleek and evocative, suiting a child you picture with a touch of mystery, and range from soft (Ciara, Melantha) to strong (Kieran, Krishna). Here are real baby names that mean dark, black or dusky, each with its genuine meaning and origin.
18 names that mean dark for a boy — each with its real meaning and origin.
More names by meaning
Frequently asked questions
What girl name means dark?
Ciara and Keira (Irish, “dark”), Melanie (Greek, “dark, black”) and Melantha (“dark flower”).
What boy name means dark?
Kieran (“little dark one”), Sullivan (“dark eyes”), Donovan (“dark chief”) and Krishna (Sanskrit, “dark, black”).
What name means dark water or dark river?
Douglas comes from the Gaelic for “dark water” or “dark river.”